how do we make this heart beat on and on

[myocordial]

Who: Heart and you!
What: Catch-all time, kids
When: Early to mid-May
Where: A few places
Warnings: Possible murdergame discussions, nothing else at this time

i. library
[Libraries aren't exactly Heart's favorite places to be. Nothing against them, but it was just never very... him. But right now, while they're all stuck here, there's no reason to avoid it. And, honestly... there are some thing he would like to read up on.

So Heart is there for a significant portion of the day, absorbed in a book, with a stack of other books next to them. All of them about the same topic; magic. It seems like it's a little slow going, though, and he's not making that much progress. But he's doing his best here. This subject is just very outside his area of expertise? He's very out of his depth.]

ii. outside
[At this point, Heart's been wandering for a little bit, restlessly. There's no particular purpose to where he takes himself, he's just... moving for the sake of it. And he doesn't pause until he's outside, to a quiet spot, where he just... stays a bit. If you think he looks lost in thought? You're entirely on the money.

Eventually, however, there's a brief flash of magic as he pulls something from the Armiger. It looks like a device of some sort? There's another few beats, before he attaches the brace to his left wrist.

...And, moments later, pulls it off again, looking uncomfortable. What's all this about?]

iii. beach
[Practice is a bit of a useless concept for a Roidmude, for several reasons. Heart really doesn't get anything meaningful out of exercise or practicing his fighting by himself... but he's getting so tired of sitting still. It's why he goes to the beach to do just that anyway.

There's no particular style that stands out here, but at the same time you definitely can't say Heart looks inexperienced. He might not be hitting anything at this time, but the force behind his blows is still obvious. At some point, something peculiar happens, though. There's almost something of a glow to him and then there's... steam coming off of him?

Then Heart turns his attention to a nearby rock and punches it full force.

Which seems like it would be a terrible idea. But instead of the expected result of someone hurting himself punching a literal rock, there's the sound of a crack. Yes. Yes, he did manage to punch a rock hard enough to crack it. And not just a little bit, either, from the sound of it.]

Hm. [Heart steps back, looking at the damaged rock.] Underwhelming...

Comments

CLOSED;; punch party

[founderinglight]

[May as well get it over with. And Izunia's reasoning for doing so is simple - this gives him some actual recovery time before the next expedition.

That reasoning, of course, drew headshakes from Strange and Jetshard both, but he really is trying to handle this with as many precautions as possible.

To that end, it's now time to sit on the end of one of the medical bay's exam chairs, swinging his feet as he waits. Strange hovers nearby, leaning against the wall and keeping half an eye on things in case they get out of hand in a way that can't be handled without healing magic.

Hopefully, as far as Izunia is concerned, they won't have to use it.]

[myocordial]

You know, generally people aren't so eager to get hit by me.

[And that's the introduction Heart seems to be going with as he arrives, though he does nod briefly as well, as a greeting. More to Izunia's company than the man himself, but Heart's attention is back on him pretty quickly.

Honestly? He looks a little amused.]

It's almost refreshing.

[dubiouslychthonic]

[Jetshard looks up from puttering with something at her usual work station as Heart enters, acknowledging his nod with a brief movement of head and brows that isn't quite a nod of her own and isn't quite a shrug. Perhaps he's not paying her a great deal of attention, but she's keeping a wary eye on him from behind green-tinted glasses. Not mistrustful, but cautious, both the caution of a troll assessing a threat to a close ally, and the caution of a medic who is prepared to sigh very heavily at the kind of idiot who takes unnecessary risks.]

Just remember that it's not only his life you're complicating if you seriously injure him, right?

[burninglight]

Yes, well. Let it never be said that sense ran in my family.

[Ardyn came in a step behind Heart, shrugging and folding his arms]

But we're hardly going to kill him. Worst case, I have plenty of curatives.

[founderinglight]

What can I say? I don't like to leave things like this hanging, it always comes back at the worst moment. Better to get it done with.

[He does frown at the mention of potions, but Ardyn knows his troubles with those. He can deal.]

I said I would. I won't go back on my word now.

[myocordial]

I suppose that much is commendable. If very foolish. Really, though... Being handed the opportunity this way almost takes the fun out of it.

[...He smiles, a slight excited glint in his eye.]

Almost.

[A hit is still a hit and he's going to enjoy it.]

But yes, yes, no serious injury. Honestly, with all this preparation, you're giving me the impression you don't trust me. Well. At least that means you're all set, yes? I'm sure you're not the sort to back out at the last moment.

[dubiouslychthonic]

[The troll sighs, and leans against her desk with her arms crossed over her chest; she's not offering additional commentary, but she's low-key radiating Doctorly Exasperation as she watches.]

[burninglight]

Well, I'm certainly prepared.

[founderinglight]

One second.

[He pauses to produce a mouth guard, puts it in, then shoots Heart a thumbs up. Yeah, he's got this covered.]

1/2

[myocordial]

You're ridiculous.

[The urge to roll his eyes at you is strong, Izunia.

But fine then, since everything appears to be ready? Time to cut off all the meaningless preamble. Heart steps closer to Izunia, gets ready...]

2/2

[myocordial]

...and then, with a gold flash, it's something far less human looking that suddenly moves to strike.

The transformation and the punch happen real close together, but the flash might certainly act as an obvious warning to Izunia.]

[founderinglight]

[His reflexes are good. Doubly so when he panics.

Guess what happened here.

The line of light from a warp clears over Heart and Ardyn, and over to Jetshard. Izunia appears behind her, shoulders shaking. There he yanks the guard from his mouth and --]

What the hell is he?!

[The question is to Ardyn, and has the wild panic of trauma, of prison cells and teddy bears and friends missing on Friday morning.]

[burninglight]

[?????]

[This is an Ardyn who both did not think things through and is also thoroughly confused, stepping forward to lightly put a hand on Heart's arm. Priority one was always his glaives, but even then he couldn't ignore the look he'd seen and felt on his own face too many times.]

First of all, rude. Relax, it's alright--what's wrong?

[myocordial]

[It's maybe not really all that fair that Heart just sighs as this happens. Perhaps if he had a better understanding of the situation and knew a little more about Eos, this is where he'd put two and two together and maybe realize where this went wrong.

As it is, he hadn't expected this level of reaction.

Still, he's not about to ask about Izunia's well-being here, so Heart just crosses his arms. You know what, fine, pretend he's not even here.]

[dubiouslychthonic]

[Well that's certainly something.

Jetshard's not panicking, but on the other grasping appendage she 100% does not begrudge Izunia his current behavior and there is definitely something defensive about the way she straightens up in front of him and lets her hands drop from "resigned arm-cross" to "slightly tense at her sides." She's not pulled a weapon, but it'd take very little more than a twitch of her hand to retrieve one of her larger medical blades from her strife deck at this point.

She doesn't shout, but her voice is dead serious and very cold.]

You didn't think, with the negotiation that went into this fiasco, that a complete physical transfiguration mightn't have been something to mention before you just went for it?

[founderinglight]

Especially with someone with a known daemon phobia!? Because I have not exactly been hiding it!

[He's a little less panicked now but still on edge. A hand tightens over Jetshard's shoulder.]

[burninglight]

Not...exactly?

[Said in the tone of someone realizing he may have made a mistake, but taking half a step in front of Heart regardless. Just in case.]

For the love of Shiva, I didn't think he'd panic at the very least. [he did not think this through.]

Heart isn't a daemon. I think of everyone here, I'm well past qualified enough to guarantee that.

[myocordial]

[With another sigh and a shake of his head, Heart glows again, turning back to his human-looking form. Not that he feels any need to change his form for the sake of anyone's feelings, but it'll just be trouble this way.]

I wasn't aware I looked at all like a daemon.

Well. Noted.

[For fuck's sake...]

[dubiouslychthonic]

[Jetshard lifts one hand to her shoulder, closing it over Izunia's, though she doesn't turn to look at him as she addresses Heart.]

The agreement, as I understood it, was for an unarmed punch. I think most people would consider a surprise form change to be in excess of that agreement. You look nothing like my world's infectious undead and my response to you unexpectedly coming at me like that would not have been a great deal more stoic than his.

[founderinglight]

I would have reacted like that to anyone suddenly transforming, hells, it's not like daemons have predictable appearances, you have everything from the giant people-faced snakes down to tonberries.

[He does seem to relax a little, when Heart changes back forms, but it's not much, because - ]

And neither of you has yet answered the question.

[burninglight]

And that was 'an unarmed punch', in our defense. Though I will concede clearly this was not an outcome I thought enough about the situation to predict.

[Though he admitted that much, Ardyn bristled at his brother's insistence and put a hand on Heart's shoulder.]

What does it matter? He's not a daemon and he isn't a threat to you. One poorly thought out show of petty vengeance on my part doesn't mean you get to demand answers like that. Take your problem up with me and not him, this was my idea anyway.

[myocordial]

The agreement was a rather flimsy one. One free punch is about all it amounted to, there were hardly any terms discussed. [He glares at Izunia, rather than looking at Jetshard. Though his tone is rather calm, all things considered.] Perhaps next time you'd like to draw up a contract?

[Heart is much less concerned about this than Ardyn is. It's not exactly a new reaction, though being defended... that part's new. And... appreciated.]

...You also did not actually ask me, for the record.

[You just kind of shouted the question like he's not even part of the conversation, so really, what were you expecting.]

[dubiouslychthonic]

Oh, for the carbuncle's sake- [SIGH.]

You agreed to medical supervision, and the medical supervision is saying that a panic attack is not in line what she agreed to deal with. I'm still annoyed with him for setting this fiasco up in the first place, too, don't worry. I'm a medic. I've got plenty of annoyed to go around.

[founderinglight]

Thanks, Jet.

It matters because fuck you, Ardyn, you're not the only person in the multiverse allowed a few irrational hangups. And the longer you insist on sitting on it, the less reassuring you manage to be.

[Fucking idiot anaia. You're in politics, you should understand the concept of 'something to hide.'

Izunia drags a hand through his hair with a sigh, his other remaining on Jetshard's shoulder for now. There's just a little squeeze to it. And then he turns the angle of his attention to make it clear that he's speaking to Heart, past his brother.]

But the last point is certainly valid, so allow me to reiterate - what the hell are you?

[burninglight]

[Ardyn opened his mouth to argue only to snap it shut again, his own hand still on Heart's shoulder as he glanced over to him.]

...Do you want to tell him? It's your choice to make, I'm not going to let anyone start prying just because I didn't think this through.